Introducing the HomVEE Version 2 Handbook: An Overview of Updated Procedures and Standards for Conducting the Annual Evidence Review

As early childhood home visiting programs become more widespread, demand for models with established evidence of effectiveness grows stronger. Launched in 2009, HomVEE is a thorough and transparent review of the research on early childhood home visiting models. It uses established procedures and standards to assess whether a given early childhood home visiting model meets HHS criteria for evidence of effectiveness. This evidence-based designation is a key requirement of eligibility for programs implemented with funding from the Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting (MIECHV) Program. HomVEE is sponsored by the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) Office of Planning, Research, and Evaluation (OPRE), in partnership with the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), both within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

For the first time since its inception, HomVEE has substantially revised several procedures and standards that govern its review. To learn more about the changes, Mathematica held a free webinar on January 26, 2021, from 3:00–4:30 p.m. ET. Our presenters discussed the following topics:

• Highlight updates to HomVEE standards and procedures for conducting the annual evidence review beginning with the 2021 review
• Clarify which of those changes will and will not be applied retroactively to previously reviewed models

Our panel of experts included:

• Shirley Adelstein, OPRE/ACF/HHS
• Kyle Peplinski, Maternal and Child Health Bureau/HRSA/HHS
• Emily Sama-Miller, Mathematica
• Julieta Lugo-Gil, Mathematica
• Rebecca Coughlin, Mathematica